Flooding in the Bashakill Wildlife Area
September 29, 2004
Provided and copyright by: Steve Kluge, Fox Lane High School
Summary authors & editors: Steve Kluge
The Middle Delaware-Mongaup-Brodhead watershed in southeastern New York State contains the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area -- a 2200 acre wetland that grows thick with various grasses and marsh plants. Normally, the only navigable water in the Bashakill (even by kayak or canoe) is a narrow, wildly meandering channel. On the evening of August 30, 2004, a brief but violent storm associated with Tropical Storm Gaston dropped over 6 inches (150 mm) of rain across the watershed in just a few hours. This picture above was taken while kayaking the Bashakill on the morning of August 31, about 14 hours after the rain had stopped, and the effects of the massive storm runoff are apparent. The entire marsh was flooded with more than an extra foot (300 mm) of water, affording relatively easy kayak access to the entire marsh. Deep, silt laden water and a brisk northwest wind combined to create this uniquely turbulent image of the typically lush and serene marsh.
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